Private Girls Just Wanna Have Funds

[Sophelia Ardemark]

Oomph.

It took her a moment to raise her arms. Surprise and all that. Also holding the dresses. And then she remembered how good it was to be hugged. By someone you could confide in.

When was the last time she’d been hugged?

Probably the last time she’d been around her brother. Which was far too long. They were both busy on separate paths. In fact, she was leaving for Nar Shadda on a mission come the weekend.

She hugged Cerys back tightly. Dresses and all. Releasing at the same time. She gathered herself for a moment. A genuine, timid smile on her lips.

“Okay, good.” Stepping with Cerys into the bustling market, she’d steer her toward the confectionary. Soph had a sweet tooth. And she’s always wanted to try the Theed delicacies.

“So…are you going with anyone to this dance? Do people ask others here or how does it work?”

 

[Cerys Dyn]

A Soph was straight back into the awkward. "Why are you asking me?" Cerys spat out, but this time with an actual laugh that lit up her face. "Have you met me? Do I seriously come across as the sort of person that knows about Jedi dating etiquette?"

Without asking, Cerys took the dresses from Sophelia, and draped them over her shoulder. It was perhaps not the most orthodox thing to do, but this was the first successful shopping trip she had been on. Poor Zaiya.

"Least I could do seeing as you paid," she said before protest could be made.

Shifting awkwardly, as she moved on towards the smell of freshly baked bread. Cerys rolled her eyes. "No. I most definitely not going with anyone. I don't know anyone to go with...to start with...and then...my whole...schtick...makes it hard." She sounded uncomfortable with the subject, but was clearly trying. None more so when she asked... "And...do you have someone you would like to go with?"

Sophelia Ardemark

 

[Sophelia Ardemark]

“Well, you and I can’t both be Jen,” Soph smirked and shook her head. Her mirialan roommate was very popular. With the girls and guys. “I’ve lost track of how many different people have asked her to go.”

A soft chuckle as she paused at a fruit stand. They were dipping strawberries into a dark substance.

“Me?” Blonde brows raised. “I’m still trying to meet people here…,” a small shrug of her shoulders. “Do you know Elian Abrantes ? He seems nice. I ran into him last weekend when the power went out. He really helped me out.”

Best not to share the exact circumstances of that to Cerys. Or anyone else. Even though she’d already seen some tabloids.

“Or maybe my cousin, Loren Ardemark ? He’s new too. I’m being sent on my first solo mission to Nar Shadda next week so haven’t really thought about the dance.” Her efforts had been on preparation. Studying that mysterious illness that was spreading among the villages. And she was nervous. She didn’t think she was ready. But padawans, knights, and masters were spread thin. They’d reassured her she was probably checking out a dead end.

 

[Cerys Dyn]

"I am afraid that the handful of Jedi I know well enough...either will not talk to me...are my master..." She paused a moment at the mention of Balun, but chose not to divulge anything, even to a confidant. "...my former master...and elderly master...yourself...the Grandmaster...that's it really. None of them would be ideally suited to such an event." Her tone was mattered-of-fact as she assessed possibilities. Even if there were an option, she was unlikely to mention it.

Perhaps Sophelia would go with her? Cerys' eyes fluttered at the thought, and the moment past.

"I had not considered it a possibility for you to go with your cousin...that seems safer for your reputation," she said, and noted mentally — again — how worried she was for Jenn.

"Two of those please," Cerys took the chance to order for the both of them, and the store owner got to work on a sugary monstrosity.

"I would ask my sister to go with me...but she is likely to stab me and laugh at my weak way of dying...she's a Sith."

Sophelia Ardemark fyi, Eira Dyn

 

[Sophelia Ardemark]

Wow. Cerys knew a lot of masters. Even the Grandmaster. Soph had only seen the Holo boards around the Sanctuary of the strong-looking woman with pointed ears. Then her golden brows lifted higher on her fair skin.

"Your sister is a sith? Is this common among families with multiple force sensitives? I felt bad for Corazona von Ascania with Lysander von Ascania but now I wonder if it's just an ordinary thing?" Soph was the only force sensitive in her family. Part of the reason why she'd started training so late. She'd never known what she was experiencing. That and it had been forbidden.

At least she'd never have to navigate those complications herself.

A part of her felt bad for Helios now. Having a force user sister probably wasn't easy for him. She'd be putting herself in danger a lot more...than he knew she had before.

Then, a brilliant idea. She couldn't hide the excited glint in her eye, though, she wondered how her new friend would take it. "Cerys, what if I ask my cousin if he wants to escort you to the ball? And if not...,," a small shrug. "We can all just go as a group of friends." The shopkeep handed them some fruit dipped in that dark substance, which Soph realized was chocolate. She'd had it once before at one of their house parties at Pelagia. This stuff seemed darker though. Richer.

And as she bit down, her eyes widened in pure wonder and joy.

"This is delicious, thanks Cee."

 

[Cerys Dyn]

The sugary syrup was already running down the side of her hand, and Cerys was quickly lapping it up. "Ohf...ibe...donf...knowf...abouf...thaf...Soff," she said trying to keep up the mess.

Her heart was racing at the very thought of being escorted to the dance. That sounded...like a stretch for her.

"Oh...and I was adopted...so...my sister is only my sister by adoption," she said with a shrug, "not sure that changes much though."

She moved further down the street, the market stalls starting to thin out. And she munched away on her food to avoid speaking further about matters. But, all the while, she weighed up all the options. If she was going to be promoted, she needed to do something big. What could be bigger than going to a ball with a boy?

Napkin in hand, Cerys dabbed at the corners of her mouth. "Look...you can...talk to this cousin of yours...and so long as he knows...that it isn't a...you know," she mouthed the word she would not say, "then I am willing to try and not be me for one night."

Sophelia Ardemark

 

[Sophelia Ardemark]

Cerys Dyn

Soph wandered behind the other padawan. Taking note of the other culinary delicacies this planet had to offer. So far she was impressed with their chocolate. It had notes of floral in it, which was surprising and not entirely unpleasant.

The lake glittered behind them.

And for a moment, she could almost hear the cries of gulls. Hear the gentle lapping of waves on the shore. Grief was a funny thing. It could come so suddenly and strongly on a beautiful day and in ordinarily happy circumstances stances. She swallowed and quickly looked away.

Catching up to Cerys.

“I’ll talk to him,” she sounded more subdued than before. Quiet. “His name is Loren. He’s very kind. An absolute gentleman.”

A small smile.

“Cerys. What? How would you act if you weren’t yourself?”